ASIATODAY.ID, JAFFNA — More than 15 years after the end of Sri Lanka’s civil war, survivors of conflict-related sexual violence remain trapped in physical pain, psychological trauma, and social exclusion, with justice still out of reach, according to a damning new report by the UN human rights office.
Released on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, the report by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) concludes that a deep-rooted culture of impunity for wartime abuses continues to shape the lives of survivors, while the Sri Lankan state has failed to deliver accountability, recognition, or reparations.
Titled “We Lost Everything – Even Hope for Justice”, the report is based on more than a decade of UN monitoring, survivor testimonies, and consultations with civil society organisations and independent experts.
“Sexual violence in conflict constitutes a serious violation of international law and may amount to war crimes or crimes against humanity,” OHCHR spokesperson Jeremy Laurence told journalists in Geneva.
He stressed that Sri Lanka is legally bound under multiple international treaties to prevent such crimes, investigate them thoroughly, prosecute those responsible, and provide effective reparations to survivors.
“Sexual Violence Is a Torture That Never Stops”
The report documents an enduring environment of intimidation, surveillance, and stigma, affecting survivors of all genders and resulting in widespread under-reporting and an almost complete absence of effective remedies.
“Sexual violence is a torture that never stops,” one survivor told UN investigators.
Sri Lanka’s armed conflict between government forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) lasted from 1983 to 2009 and was marked by some of the most brutal abuses in the country’s history.
However, documented cases of conflict-related sexual violence date back even earlier, including during the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) insurrections of the 1970s and late 1980s.
According to the report, sexual violence was used systematically as a tool of intimidation, punishment, and control over conflict-affected populations.
Alarming Impunity After the War
Despite the formal end of hostilities in 2009, OHCHR warns that continued militarisation, emergency legal frameworks, and weakened rule of law have allowed gender-based violence — including sexual violence — to persist with near-total impunity.
The report highlights serious deficiencies in Sri Lanka’s domestic legal system, including:
– The absence of legislation specifically addressing conflict-related sexual violence
– Statutes of limitation that restrict prosecutions
– Limited forensic and investigative capacity
– An extremely low number of cases brought to court
Male and LGBTQ+ survivors remain particularly invisible, with some experiences either ignored or criminalised under existing laws.
UN Calls for Acknowledgement, Apology, and Accountability
OHCHR emphasises that truth, recognition, and accountability are essential to restoring survivors’ dignity and advancing genuine national reconciliation.
The UN urges the Sri Lankan government to take immediate and concrete action, including:
– Publicly acknowledging past sexual violence committed by state forces and other actors
– Issuing a formal state apology to survivors
– Implementing survivor-centred reforms across the security sector and judiciary
– Establishing an independent prosecutorial mechanism
– Guaranteeing long-term access to psychological, medical, and social support
Without decisive action, the UN warns, the wounds of Sri Lanka’s war will continue to fester — and survivors will remain trapped in a cycle of silence, fear, and unending trauma. (AT Network)
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